A Brief History of Candora:
The Candora Society was incorporated in 1989 in response to the needs of the communities of Abbotsfield and Rundle Heights in Northeast Edmonton. Its roots are firmly in the community. There were women who had been working in the community who wanted to see some changes in how people live. And there were women who lived in the community who wanted to see some changes t
oo. Candora is the result of those people meeting, and working together over the years. Bev Sochatsky Downing was introduced to the community in 1985. Bev worked for the consumer Education Project of Grant MacEwan Community College. Cathy Vereyken became involved in the community when she came to work at the Beverly Social Services office for the city of Edmonton in the summer of 1985.The usual approach of the Consumer Educational Project was to create and offer programs based on what the department saw as the needs of the people. This can be useful. However, a decision was made to try a different approach. The challenge was to explore working in community development. They called themselves the Abbottsfield Women's Project. The intent was to work in a participatory approach to education, to get the women to name their issues and then as a group take action on them. A main focus for Cathy and Bev was to look at the resources in the neighborhood. They were committed to seeing strength in the area, not only problems. The original program was entitled the Community Advocacy Project, and provided a small amount of money who worked as community workers. The group grew and the organization was named Candora. "Can Do in Rundle and Abbottsfield." The name had special meaning for Spanish-speaking people as well. Candora means openness and honesty in Spanish. The project had begun.
